Archive for 1. August 2008

Casting Pearls Before Swine

Hello: 

 

Our text for today is Matthew 7:6   

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”   

Jesus uses figurative language to demonstrate a principle.   The bible is a literary masterpiece and as in all literature, it contains different genres or styles of writing.    Context is very important when interpreting the biblical text or any piece of literature.  Context will allow you to know when to take something literally or when to take it figuratively. 

Casting pearls before swine.   Do not offer what is sacred, precious, or costly to people that have no appreciation or value of it because they will simply despise it and your generous efforts will be loathed and even openly attacked and possibly rebuked and  it will never be enough.   

The dogs and swine here refer to the ungrateful, unthankful, unappreciative and the worldly; the people that belittle the value of what is given to them.    When the text talks about do not give what is holy to dogs, it is referring to the holy meat of the alter used for sacrifice.  Dogs could care less about the sacred meat of the alter; whether it came from the trash can or whether it came from the “house of God” and swine have no sense of the costliness  and beauty of pearls, they will simply trample it under their feet. 

 

Our time, energy, life, existence, money, etc all belong to God and it is God’s pearls.  We are simply stewards of all God gave us here on this earth and we are to be discerning and careful as to how and who we distribute our time, energy, and resources to. 

This applies to relationships as well which is why the scriptures teach us to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers for what fellowship does light have with darkness.   An unbeliever that you are dating will typically not respect your value system or your stand for holiness, sooner or later they will eventually begin asking you to compromise.   

We are God’s pearls, holy, and unique; a royal priesthood and a chosen generation. 

 

We are costly and priceless.  Be encouraged!!!!!!!! 

 

Have a great weekend, See you on Monday.  

God Bless!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

 

|